Geneva Tourist Traps

Be aware when you buy your transportation ticket from automatic machine at bus stop if you are in Geneva. You should to have the correct amount because some automats don't give change!

CFF/SBB Swiss railway tickets automats give change to a max of CHF 20.-

Unique Suggestions: Complain to the bus company about this unfair practice.

In 2005, CHF 230'000 has been "earned" in Geneva by this way!!! (source: Le Matin newspaper 04.07.2006)

2006 Update:
From now, you ticket will disclose the overpaid amount and you could claim the refund but only in one of the 3 TGP offices (Cornavin railway station, Rive or Bachet). All machine will be upgraded to give change in 2009/10... Better late than never ;-)

Fun Alternatives: Use electronic prepaid bus card (you could even get a 10% bonus when recycling the cards;-) or have the exact fare amount.

As nice as it was, none of the chocolates I tried tasted any better than good quality chocolate elsewhere in the world (particularly Belguim)

Unique Suggestions: It won't hurt to buy some, but don't be dissapointed if it's not the best thing since pizza bars.

Fun Alternatives: Try chocolate Fondue instead

Every year, at the end of July and till the beginning of August, Geneva transforms into an immense popular festival where all kinds of people and nationalities meet.

The Geneva Festival was created in 1947 and has become famous in the whole world and is an opportunity to amuse oneself happily and cheerfully. The Festival takes place around the lake but also within different districts in Geneva, in order to satisfy fans of funfairs, techno music, carnival, rave, popular balls, folklore, humorists, cabaret singers, classical music, fashion, gastronomy etc.

Among the highlights of the Festival are certainly the musical fireworks, a fantastic moment which enlightens the roadstead and at which the world’s most famous firework manufacturers are present.

The 'Escalade' is certainly the most famous among them. This even commemorates the attempt by the Duke of Savoy to invade Geneva in during the night between the 11th and the 12th of December 1602. Every year on those dates an impressing historical procession walks through Geneva in order to celebrate the victory over the invaders.
For this occasion all sweetshops sell pots made out of chocolate reminding of the heroic acting of the 'Mère Royaume' who poured the vegetable- soup over the invaders.

The Jet D'eau is a favourite tourist trap - even more fun if people are walking slowly in front of you when you walk under the fountain.
Located downstream from the Rhone this liquid monument symbol of geneva hurls 500 litres of water/second 140 metres into the air - quite a drenching but really cooling on a hot summer's day.

In Geneva they charged us for any other sauce at Burger King, including ketchup. They ask you if you want any sauces, but they don't tell you have to pay extra.

Do not buy anything from Duty Free Shops in Switzerland, as everything there is more expensive with at least 30% than in ordinary shops!!!!